MacDonell, John. Description of Lake Athabasca and the Chipweans, ca. 1805 and Journal of a Voyage from Lachine to Fort River Qu'Appelle, 1793. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0005

No 11

intended as places of resort when in danger. All this laborious work is done in the night in the month of September. In Feb. following they begin to copulate, and bring forth in the month of May from three to six at a time. Until the Young arrive at the age of three months they are subject to be destroyed by the muskrat which is their mortal enemy. The third year of his age the beaver begins to breed and will continue to have a litter of Young ones every Year until the age of eleven, and is supposed to live only to about fifteen Years old. Both Male and Female are supposed to remain together during their lives as in a state of matrimony, and generally retain the first house they have built; except the Male should be driven out by some invader stronger than himself, who usurps his place; but still not without great exertions on the past of the rightful owner, who will fight almost untill death rather than Yield up his rights; but when overcome by superior

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